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| − | {{review}}
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages style="float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1ex; border:1px solid gray; padding:0.7ex; background-color:white;">Insecta</categorytree>
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| − | [[Image: flea.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Robert Hooke's famous flea from Micrographia]]
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| − | [[Flea Structure]]
| + | #REDIRECT[[:Category:Fleas]] |
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| − | The terms '''ctenidia''' and '''combs''' can be used interchangably for spines on the head/thorax. Spines on the cheeks are referred to as '''genal''' and spines on the thorax are called '''pronotal''' combs. The presence and location of the chitinous spines are important in differentiating between the different flea species. The chitinous anal struts are also used for identification and help the flea larvae with vigorous motility.
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| − | ==[[Flea Life Cycle]]==
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| − | [[Image:Flea larvae.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flea Larvae - Wikimedia Commons]]
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| − | A thorough understanding of the flea life-cycle is important in order to be able to advise owners of adequate treatments to control flea infections on their animals and within the home environment.
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| − | *The time for the egg to develop into the adult flea takes '''3-4 weeks''' in summer
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| − | *Duration of the life cycle is dependent on environmental temperature
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| − | '''1. Adults'''
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| − | *Uses changes in light intensity, warmth and carbon dioxide to locate host
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| − | *Once on host, the flea will usually remain
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| − | **With animals in close contact there may be a small degree of transfer between hosts
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| − | **The majority of adult fleas are acquired from the '''environment'''
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| − | *The adult flea takes frequent blood meals. 97% of fleas will feed within 1 hour of finding a host and feed for about 10-25 minutes.
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| − | *'''Flea dirt''' (faeces) are produced in large quantities
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| − | *The life span of the flea is determined by the grooming activity of the host
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| − | **Usually the adult flea lives for between '''7 and 10 days'''
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| − | '''2. Eggs'''
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| − | *The adult lays eggs 1-2 days after locating a host
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| − | *Approximately '''15 eggs''' are layed in the coat per day
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| − | *Eggs are ivory white, oval and approxiamtely 0.5mm long
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| − | *The eggs drop to the ground within hours
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| − | **In reality this usually happens when the animal jumps of the sofa or makes sudden movements. Flea eggs will therefore cluster in these '''hot spots''' around the house. These areas should be paid particular attention when treating the environment in the case of a flea infestation.
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| − | '''3. Larvae'''
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| − | *Larvae are small, about 2-5mm in length
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| − | *Larvae are yellow/white (look like maggots) and are covered in bristles
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| − | *They have chitinous mouthparts and anal struts which can be used for identification
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| − | *Larvae are negatively phototropic so try to move away from light sources
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| − | **E.g. under furniture, into thick mats or carpet
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| − | *Larvae feed on skin debris from other animals, flea dirt and other organic debris
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| − | *High humidity is needed for survival
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| − | *Freezing temperatures will kill larvae
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| − | '''4. Pupae'''
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| − | *The larvae pupate forming pupae of 5mm in length
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| − | *A silken cocoon surrounds the pupae
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| − | **Slightly sticky so small particles adhere to it
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| − | **These quickly become camouflaged in the environment
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| − | *Methoprene, the juvenile development hormone coordinates the growth of the immature stages
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| − | **Activates genetic switches
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| − | **Determines the sequence of tissue and organ development
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| − | *Newly developed adults do not leave the cocoon straight away
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| − | **The '''pupal window''' is the time that it takes for the adult to emerge
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| − | **Temperature determines when the adult fleas emerge
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| − | **Some fleas may wait several months before emerging
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| − | *Newly emerged unfed adults can survive days without feeding but once they have fed, if they fall off the host they can only survive hours
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| − | [[Flea Habitat and Control]]
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| − | ==Habitats==
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| − | *Only approximately '''5%''' of the flea population will be on the animal at any one time (and usually it is a much smaller percentage)
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| − | *The rest of the population are in the '''environment'''
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| − | **E.g. Eggs, larvae, pupae and unfed adults
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| − | *Fleas accumulate in certain '''hot spots''' where the animal spends the majority of its time
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| − | **E.g. Warm, shady, humid ares
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| − | **E.g. Outdoors in warmer climates or inside in temperate climates
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| − | *Very large numbers of eggs are found in areas where cats land after jumping as they have been dislodged
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| − | **E.g. Beside sofas
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| − | ==Control==
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| − | [[Image:Flea Dirt.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flea Dirt - Wikimedia Commons]]
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| − | [[Image:Flea Bites.jpg|right|Thumb|150px|Flea bites on a human - Wikimedia Commons]]
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| − | *Single or occasional treatments will only give temporary relief from fleas as the majority of the population is '''in the environment'''
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| − | *Appropriate action must be taken to stop re-infestation
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| − | *The animal must be rid of its resident flea population
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| − | *The animal should be protected against subsequent re-infestation
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| − | **From within the home
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| − | **From outside the home
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| − | *The environmental reservoir population should be eliminated
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| − | **Animal treatment to deplete reservoir
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| − | ***Adulticides
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| − | ***Adulticides with larvicidal effects
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| − | ***Insect growth regulators (IGR's)
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| − | **Direct chemical treatment of domestic environment
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| − | ***Insecticides
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| − | ***Insect growth regulators
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| − | ***Inorganic chemicals
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| − | ***Entomophagous nematodes (These are parasitic nematodes which predate other parasite eggs)
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| − | *To prevent resistance occurring, control methods should not rely solely on chemical methods
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| − | **Hygiene such as regular vacuuming and washing of the animal's bedding should also occur for the most effective treatment
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| − | *For more information on the chemicals used for flea treatment click [[Ectoparasiticides|here]]
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| − | ==Species of veterinary importance==
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| − | <big>
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| − | '''[[Ctenocephalides felis|''Ctenocephalides felis'']]
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| − | '''[[Ctenocephalides canis|''Ctenocephalides canis'']]
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| − | '''[[Ceratophyllus gallinae|''Ceratophyllus gallinae'']]
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| − | '''[[Pulex irritans|''Pulex irritans'']]
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| − | '''[[Spilopsyllus cuniculi|''Spilopsyllus cuniculi'']]
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| − | </big>
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| − | ===Other important flea species===
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| − | *Fleas of wildlife can sometimes infect domestic animals
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| − | '''[[Tunga penetrans|''Tunga penetrans'']]
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| − | '''[[Nosopsyllus fasciatus|''Nosopsyllus fasciatus'']]
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| − | '''[[Echisnophaga gallinacea|''Echisnophaga gallinacea'']]
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| − | '''[[Archaeopsylla erinacei|''Archaeopsylla erinacei'']]
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| − | ==[[Fleas Flashcards]]==
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| − | ==Links==
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| − | ''Internal''
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| − | *[[Skin Immunologic - Pathology#Flea bite hypersensitivity|Flea allergic dermatitis (FAD)]]
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| − | *Fleas act as intermediate hosts for [[Dipylidium|'''''Dipylidium'' tapeworms''']]
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| − | *Fleas act as vectors for [[Myxomatosis|myxomatosis]] in rabbits
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| − | ''External''
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| − | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea Wikipedia- Fleas]
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| − | [[Category:Fleas]]
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